Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative Celebrates 60th Anniversary at Annual Meeting on May 3

A legacy of innovation and unwavering community support defines Blackfoot today

Blackfoot, a Montana-based broadband and telecommunications provider, will celebrate 60 years of business at their annual meeting on Saturday, May 3, at the University of Montana Ballroom. This year’s annual meeting is part of a series of celebration activities the company has planned throughout 2014, underscoring Blackfoot’s mission and values, deep commitment to community support and vision for the future.

"This year’s annual meeting celebration theme was an obvious choice with so much excitement around our anniversary," stated CEO, Bill Squires. "We are very pleased to have received congratulatory comments from Governor Bullock and other distinguished leaders, which we shared in our annual report. Our anniversary provides an opportunity to express gratitude to our founders who started Blackfoot down the innovative path we’re on today. It’s really an extraordinary story that started in 1954 when 10 visionary farmers and ranchers stepped up to support their rural communities’ communications needs by giving money out of their own pockets to provide dependable telephone service. Today, Blackfoot boasts revenues of approximately $50 million and employs over 170 dedicated individuals. We also still hold fast to the vision of our founders: To enrich the lives of our customers, owners, and employees. Blackfoot is committed to meeting the technology needs of future generations and to continuing our legacy of service, progress and growth through the next 60 years and beyond."

Blackfoot’s annual meeting agenda consists of several timely and important topics, in addition to the celebration to commemorate the Cooperative’s 60th anniversary.

Doors open at 9:00am

Meeting commences at 10:30am

Business: Nomination of Trustees

Information sharing: State of Cooperative, announcement of Capital Credit distribution of over $2 million, future vision and strategy message

Scholarship awards: Over $31,000 in scholarships will be presented to students from 23 Blackfoot communities
Entertainment: Rob Quist, special performance

Learn more about Blackfoot’s annual meeting and 60th celebration at http://www.blackfoot.com/2013annualreport.

About Blackfoot: Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) offers advanced broadband and telecommunications solutions to customers in Montana and Eastern Idaho, including voice, data, IT and managed WAN services. Named after the Blackfoot River which runs through its original service territory, Blackfoot was established in 1954 as a cooperative and is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Today, the Blackfoot family of companies includes: Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Blackfoot Communications, Fremont Communications, and TeleSphere Software, a wholly-owned subsidiary offering professional services to the telecom industry. Learn about Blackfoot products and services at http://www.blackfoot.com. Learn how Blackfoot supports our communities at http://www.facebook.com/BlackfootTelecomm.